Combatting Islamophobia guide - What is Islamophobia

The Victorian Government is committed to protecting the safety and wellbeing of Victoria’s Muslim communities. We stand with every Victorian to oppose hate speech, racism and Islamophobia.

Victorian Government Statement

Victoria is home to over 273,000 Muslims1, who come from a range of diverse backgrounds, countries and branches of Islam.

Despite Victoria’s rich diversity, Muslim Victorians continue to experience incidents of Islamophobia that impact every part of life including sense of belonging, safety and access to opportunity and services.

In developing this resource, we heard from Muslim communities that experiences of Islamophobia have been normalised and are considered part of being Muslim in Victoria.

This is unacceptable. There is no place for Islamophobia in Victoria. Our Muslim communities have the right to live, work and pray without fear of intimidation, exclusion, harassment and violence.

Challenging Islamophobia requires not only naming its harm but also understanding its roots and how it is shaped by fear, history, and narratives that falsely link Muslim identity with threat.

This document provides an overview of the impact that Islamophobia has on our Muslim communities. There are two other supporting documents:

  • Active bystander toolkit detailing how Victorians can stand up to Islamophobia and support people who have experienced it
  • Accessing support and reporting Islamophobiapractical guide on reporting Islamophobia and support services available for people who have experienced it.

This work forms part of a suite of actions the Victorian Government is taking to combat racism and discrimination of all kinds.

This work is underpinned by the Anti-Racism Strategy 2024-2029, which outlines the roadmap for a Victoria free from racism and discrimination, where all Victorians enjoy equal rights, freedoms and protections, and thrive in safe, healthy and supportive communities.

On 15 March 2025 the Victorian Government recognised the International Day to Combat Islamophobia and reaffirmed our commitment to standing up to hate and racism in all forms.

Every Victorian has a role to play in combatting Islamophobia, hate and racism.

References

1Australian Bureau of Statistics, Cultural Diversity: Census, 2021.

  • What is Islamophobia?

    In this guide, Islamophobia means prejudice, fear or hatred of Muslim people and the religion of Islam. Islamophoba can include hostility, violence, threats, harassment or abuse.

  • Drivers of Islamophobia

    The drivers of Islamophobia are complex. Trigger events, misinformation and disinformation, and media coverage have shown to be key drivers of Islamophobia.

  • Impacts of Islamophobia

    The impact of Islamophobia can be severe and long-lasting. Islamophobia impacts all aspects of someone’s life.

Updated

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